7 E-Commerce Marketing Events You Don't Want To Miss

There are few things I love more thanmarketing conferences. I consider myself a people person, and these types of events are prime for meeting industry influencers, othermarketing speakers, and motivated individuals who are eager to learn more about their industries and how they can shape them. Every year, it seems like I catch wind of a new one that sounds like it can't be missed.

With summer seeming to slow things down for me, I've found myself with some time to work on my conference schedules. So I naturally wanted to share some of my top recommendations in the e-commerce space.

In addition to some standard must-attend conferences, you’ll find a couple of newbies to stretch your perspective and your networking opportunities. Pull up your calendar and get ready to plan for some of the best e-commerce and marketing events on the horizon:

Speaking of newcomers, Hawkefest promises to completely shift the dynamic and raise the bar.Hawke Media, the organizer of Hawkefest and a company I've worked with, will bring together top e-commerce talent in an insanely fun and exclusive way. The venue is a warehouse that's envisioned as a playground. Hawkefest is designed with the mission to shape the future of e-commerce and meet amazing thought leaders while enjoying award-winning cuisine, learning in thought-provoking interactive sessions, and listening to incredible musicians and performers. Note that you'll have to be accepted to participate, as only 200 executives from e-commerce companies with $5 million or more in yearly revenue qualify.

Keeping track of digital retail trends can be pretty tough. Shop.org focuses on providing insights into the future of this industry so you can be better at your job and plan accordingly, making your retail digital strategy as effective as possible. If you're looking to improve your ROI, this conference is a must-add to your agenda.

Currently happening, this festival attracts the most creative minds out there. The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity touches on music, entertainment, e-commerce, and economics, just to name a few, and those awarded a "Lion" receive that honor because their work truly embodies what it means to be industry-shaping.

This conference includes a ton of e-commerce and retail experts and promises to have an agenda you can't find at any other conference. This year's conference just happened, but make sure you take a look at 2018's dates and plan to attend. You won't want to miss learning the latest trends in this ever-changing industry.

Yeah, the name is odd, but don’t let that fool you. This retreat conference mixes a little bit of everything you love in get-to-know-what’s-happening powwows. Attend this year’s mastermind convention — with aspects of picnics and parties — and you could meet Chris Mercer of Seriously Simple Marketing and Pedram Shojai (“The Urban Monk”), among others.

Join the waitlist today for this San Diego event that's scheduled for the end of February next year. It’s everything you need to know about boosting your conversions and making your mark in your vertical. Looking to make a bigger splash than just participating? You can always offer to sponsor some of the events.

Everyone can use a little shop talk — especially retailers and e-commerce pros. Plus, if you attend this year’s event, you’ll have the chance to explore Copenhagen, Denmark, for three bustling days. Boasting more than 250 dynamic, internationally known speakers, Shoptalk is a game changer for attendees who are truly interested in becoming stronger leaders and smarter investors.

If your schedule still has some spots available, don’t worry. They’ll fill up quickly with Skype meetings, Google Hangouts, and face-to-face get-togethers as you build relationships at these exciting events. Go forth and market alongside the best and the brightest.

John is the co-founder of Calendar, author of best-selling book "Top of Mind," and keynote speaker. You can sign up for early access to Calendar here!